Car-coupling



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. B. MAAS.

GAR COUPLING.

' No. 396,943. Patented JamZQ, 1889.

IIVVENTOR, id 1 3, I/KaM WITNESSES ATTORNEY.

2 SheetsSheet 2;

(No Model.)

J. B. MAAS.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 396,943. Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

INVENTOR. java Ad WITNESSES ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrrcti.

JOHN B. MAAS, OF NEGAUNEE, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 396,943, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed May 28, 1888. $erial No. 275,295. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, J OHN B. MAAs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Negaunee, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Jar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention is an automatic car-coupler; and it consistsin the parts which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

.In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents avertical longitudinal View, partly in section, of two couplings embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the parts substantially in the positions as shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of two draw-heads. This view shows a bellcrank lever and chains connected therewith for actuating the hook-arm and the dog eonnected to said arm, whereby the uncoupling may be effected from the top or side of a car.

' Fig. r shows a front view of a draw-head and link, the link being in section. In this view an upper horizontal rod with outer arms at right angles thereto is shown.

The letter A represents a d rawdi cad, and A the shank or stem thereof. The jaw of the draw-head on the inner side isbeveled, being largest at the outer end. The opening ll thus formed communicates with the main chamber 0 in said draw-head.

D a transverse bolt passing through said chamber, through the walls thereof, and secured by nuts on the outer side thereof.

E is a hook, E an upper arm, and a lower short arm. These parts E l E are formed integral. The bolt 1) passes through an opening in the body of the hook, so as to permit said hook to turn freely on the bolt. The forward wall and floor of the chamber aforesaid are curved in the arc of a circle, so as to conform to the are described by the outer side of the hook and the lower end of the arm E when said parts are turned. There is a large opening in the upper side of the draw-head, which connnunicates with the chamber aforesaid. This opening is sufficiently large to permit the arm E to move forward and backward, and also permit the upper side of the hook to rise above the upper surface of the draw-head when said hook is raised, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The lower lip of the draw-head is recessed at 1 for thereception of a link-lifter, J. Said link-lifter consists of a horizontal cross-piece for engaging the link and a bell-crank body, J. There is a transverse opening through the lower lip of the draw-head, in. which is engaged-a bolt, K. The bell-crank of the linklifter at its elbow is pivotally engaged to the bolt K.

F is a dog pivotally connected to the arm E. The upper rear side of the drmv-head is provided with a notch, F, which forms a seat for the outer end of the dog F. This dog is to lock the arm E, so as to hold the hook in engagement with the link G that is to say, to prevent the hook from becoming accidentally disengaged from the link. H is a horizontal rod provided with outer arms, ll I I. These arms are at right angles to said rod. The rod is attachet'l to the end ofthe car, so that it may be turned by its arms orby the innerbcllcrank, L. This bellcrank is fixed to the rod II. The upper end of the arm E is provided with a short arm, E, pivotally connected thereto. The outer arm, L, of the bell-crank is connected by a chain, 1 ,withthe arm E. The inner arm, L of the bell-crank is connected by chain Z to the outer end of the dog F.

M m a rod and chain connected. The lower end of the chain on is connected to the outer end of the crank-arm L The rod M extends upward to the top of a box-car, and may be secured by any suitable means.

The operation of the invention is as follows: \Yhen two cars are to be coupled, the link is placed in the still car, substantiall Y as shown in the right-hand draw-head in Fig. .l. The approaching draw-head and its parts are in the position shown inv the companion coupling. As the draw-heads come together, the link will. enter the jaw of the approaching draw-head, striking the piece E and forcing said piece backward. This action instantly forces down the hook E, so as to eifect a coupling.

The link-lifter is only employed to elevate the link when a coupling is to be effected. The normal position of said lifter is shown in the left-hand draw-head, Fig. 1. The bellcrank to elevate the link is set by hand.

The uncoupling may be effected from the side of the car byturning one of the arms Hi. This movement turns the rod ll andthcbellcrank L. The rotary movement of the crankarms L L through themedium of the chains H and short arm E disengages the dog 1* from its notch, forces back the arm E, and raises the hook E, thereby disengaging the hook from the link. A like result (uncoupling) may be effected by raising the rod M from the top of the car.

It will be observed that when the hook is under strain it rests against the outer wall of the draw-head chamber. 'By this arrangement the cross-bolt l) is relieved from strain.

By the use of my coupling it is not necessary for an attendant to go between the cars either to couple or uncouple them.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-head provided with a jaw for the reception of a link and an inner chamber communicating therewith, and a hook and arm, E, pivotally mounted within said chamber, said arm being provided with the deg F, the draw-head being notched to receive said dog, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-head provided with a jaw for the reception of a link and an inner chamber communicating therewith, a hook and arm, E, pivotally mounted within said chamber, and the dog F, pivotally attached to said arm, the draw-head being notched for said dog, in combination with the rod ll, having arms H, bell-crank L, and the chains l I, connected to the respective arms of said bell-crank, the outer ends of said chains being engaged, respectively, to the dog and arm E aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

3. A ear-coupler consisting of a draw-head provided with a jaw for thereception of a link and an inner chamber communicating therewith, a hook and arm, E, pivotally mounted within said chamber, and the dog F, pivotally attached to said arm, the draw-head being notched for said dog, in combination with the rod H, bell-crank L, and the chains Z1, connected to the respective arms of said bellerank, the outer ends of said chains being engaged, respectively, to the dog and arm E aforesaid, and the rod M, connected to an arm of the bell-crank, as specified, substantially as described.

Signed at Negaunee, in the county of Marquette and State of l\:[ichigan, this 16th day of April, A. D. 1888.

JOHN B. MAAS.

\Vitnesses:

T. (J. YATES, F. M. BENEY. 

